We love well-deserved recognition of our dynamic home city...Fast Company magazine just named Chicago the U.S. City of the Year. In an article by Alex Kotlowitz (author of Never a City So Real: A Walk in Chicago), we're taken through the city that is "constantly reinventing itself: Jumpy. Agitated. Impatient..."
U.S. City of the Year: Chicago Fast Company
For many reasons, this article reinforced our happiness at calling Chicago home. A shortlist of stellar statistics begins with three magic words: Magnetic, Dynamic, Smart. We couldn't agree more.
Stats:
- Chicago ranks 7th in estimated 2007 population growth - the only non-Sun Belt city in the top 10.
- The estimated growth rate of Chicago's economy in 2008 is 1.9% - faster than New York or Los Angeles.
- Proportion of downtown Chicago residents with graduate degrees is 29% - 3.3 times the national average.
- Chicago ranks #1 among U.S. cities for business investment and expansion in '08 - according to Site Selection magazine - a title the city has held for six of the past seven years.
- There are 30 Fortune 500 companies based in metro Chicago, more than in any U.S. city except New York.
The real juice comes from Kotlowitz's discussion of culture, attitude, hard work and joy, among his stops at Hot Doug's, the Hideout, and Cuatro. He writes, "Every time I set forth in this scrappy place, I'm reminded why, despite my roots as a New Yorker, I've chosen Chicago as home: Alongside the failed and the fragile, it's a city of romance and optimism."
Read the full article here.
Comments (6)
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That's nice to hear!
The Hideout is a real treasure. Although, after this article that may change pretty quickly. There is some incredible talent showcased (Bloodshot records) at that place.
One of the reasons I'm in Chicago is because it does SEEM like a place that one can capitalize on their dream to open a business more easily than other cities. In other words, it doesn't seem like an impossibility for the average person like me but it is still pretty damn daunting.
view art's profile
now if daley could only fix the potholes.
view Johnp's profile
Just about every city is going through the potholes problem to some degree. People would rather pay for something new than to fix something old. We're seeing that here in Portland too.
Glad to see Chicago get some love. What a cool city.
view Rob in PDX's profile
Glad to hear that, happy to be a new resident.
view gra.phic's profile
Yeah! I'm planning my first trip to Chicago for the fall.
view peacelily's profile
Yeah, SF is full of pot holes, too.
view J's profile